Odds to Win WAC

LOUISIANA TECH BULLDOGS

2012 Preview:
Offense: Starters Returning: 8
Defense: Starters Returning: 5
The Bulldogs enter 2012 as the clear favorites in the WAC. QB Colby Cameron (1,667 pass yds, 13 TD) is back under center after playing phenomenal football down the stretch. Cameron rarely turns the ball over (3 INT in 215 pass attempts), a great attribute for a young QB to have in an Air Raid system. He’ll also be happy to have WR Quinton Patton (1,202 rec yds, 11 TD) back to reel in some big throws for him. Defensively, this team causes a lot of turnovers (31, +11 margin) and that should continue this season as they return all of their starters in the secondary. The Bulldogs will need a new group of linebackers to step up and help immediately, and if they do that, they should breeze to a conference title.

UTAH STATE AGGIES

2012 Preview:
Offense: Starters Returning: 5
Defense: Starters Returning: 7
Utah State got hot at the end of last season, winning its final five regular-season games, all by seven points or less. The defense loses its top two tacklers, but their depth will come in handy. There should be no glaring weaknesses on an Aggies defense that led the WAC with 366 YPG allowed. Offensively, sophomore QB Chuckie Keeton (1,200 pass yds, 11 TD) is back after a year in which he threw only two interceptions in eight games. The RB position loses its two leading rushers, including 1,517-yard back Robert Turbin. In steps senior RB Kerwynn Williams (542 rush yds, 6.7 YPC), who should excel as the main ball carrier in an offense that averaged a WAC-best 33.6 PPG last season.

SAN JOSE STATE SPARTANS

2012 Preview:
Offense: Starters Returning: 6
Defense: Starters Returning: 4
San Jose State is having an interesting offseason. It appears its quarterback job will go to junior college transfer David Fales, who impressed in the spring game (16-for-22, 257 yds). RB David Freeman is back from injury and will move back into the starting lineup, but he’ll be running behind an unreliable offensive line. The receivers will be the strength of the offense, namely Noel Grigsby (886 rec yds) and Chandler Jones (566 rec yds). Defensively, the Spartans will bring back top pass rusher DE Travis Johnson (9.5 sacks). The front four should be dominant, but they must get better in the secondary and receive more consistent play out of a promising group of linebackers led by top tackler LB Keith Smith (104 tackles).

NEW MEXICO STATE AGGIES

2012 Preview:
Offense: Starters Returning: 5
Defense: Starters Returning: 3
New Mexico State had tons of injuries in its 4-9 season, but it will get back QB Andrew Manley, the guy they originally pinned as their starter last year. Manley threw for six touchdowns and three interceptions in three games last year before a season-ending ACL injury. RB Kenny Turner is gone after rushing for 1,074 yards and Manley also loses his best wide receivers. But New Mexico State has some solid skill position recruits coming in and could still push for a winning season. The Aggies are going to struggle defensively early on as they are losing eight starters and don’t have much depth. Last season, NMSU ranked 112th in the nation in both scoring defense (36.8 PPG) and total defense (462 YPG), but new defensive coordinator David Elson was brought in to improve those numbers.

IDAHO VANDALS

2012 Preview:
Offense: Starters Returning: 5
Defense: Starters Returning: 5
Idaho had a defense that was lit up at the end of the season, allowing 147 points (49.0 PPG) in the final three games. The Vandals are losing two of their top playmakers from that defense, but they’ll be getting back LB Robert Siavii, a top playmaker in 2010 (13.5 TFL, 4 FF) who missed all of last season with a knee injury. The defense should be up to the task, but it won’t matter if the offense doesn’t improve. This will be difficult for head coach Robb Akey, as none of his quarterbacks stood out this spring. Junior Taylor Davis has the most experience (28-of-62, 234 yds, 1 TD, 4 INT) and will likely win the job. The offensive line was a strength last year and should be again. The running game, which will feature former Arizona State RB Ryan Bass (175 rush yds, 2 TD), must improve, otherwise the Vandals will be stuck in a lot of third-and-long situations that they can’t afford to be in.

TEXAS STATE BOBCATS

2012 Preview:
Offense: Starters Returning: 5
Defense: Starters Returning: 8
Making the jump to FBS football, the Bobcats will be getting back most of their skill position talent. QB Shaun Rutherford (1,227 pass yds, 12 TD, 4 TD) is going to have an expanded role in an offense that ran more than 60 percent of the time last season. His job is primarily to take care of the ball. RBs Terrence Franks (863 rush yds, 9 TD) and Marcus Curry (637 rush yds) return as well. The defense is a question mark. The Bobcats return eight starters, but they’ve been a middling defense and will be facing better talent in the WAC. They had a mere nine interceptions in 2011 and they lose their top pass rusher, Michael Ebbitt, who had 11.5 sacks last year.

UTSA ROADRUNNERS

2012 Preview:
Offense: Starters Returning: 11
Defense: Starters Returning: 10
UT-San Antonio went just 4-6 as an FCS independent, but the school does show a lot of promise as it prepares to jump to FBS. The Roadrunners had some very competitive games with good teams and they’ll return all but one starter from last year’s squad. The most vital of those players for head coach Larry Coker is QB Eric Soza (2,148 pass yds, 14 TD, 10 INT). Coker also has an abundance of contributors in his backfield and a group of talented sophomore wide receivers led by Kam Jones (578 rec yds). Defensively, UTSA was very good last season and it has the size on its defensive line to stay competitive against WAC opponents. The young secondary should continue to improve as well.

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